Gate.



No. 659.")7 Patented Oct. 2. I900.

' J. B. SHAFFER. I

GATE.

(Application filed Ian. 20, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Patented Oct. 2, I900. J. B. SHAFFER.

GATE.

(Application filed Jan. 20, 1900.)

2 Sheets$heot 2.

(No Model.)

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UNiTn TATES ATENT uror-i.

JOHN B. SI-IAFFER, OF MOUNT CARROLL, ILLINOIS.

GATEL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,107, datedOctober 2, 1900.

Application filed January 20,1900- Serial No. 2,130. lllo model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that 1, JOHN B. SHAFFER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mount Carroll, in the county of Carroll and State ofIllinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gates, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in road-gates, and moreparticularly to the class of gates that can be opened or closed by aperson on horseback or in a vehicle without having to dismount to do so.

The object of my invention is to provide a gate of this character whichwill be light and yet be strong enough and be easy to operate and at thesame time cheap and durable.

In the drawings which accompany this specification and of which theyform a part, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my gate closed. Fig. 2 is aplan view, partially in section. Fig.

3 is an end elevation, partially in section. Fig.

4 is a detailed view of the latch.

In the drawings like characters of reference denote like parts whereverthey occur.

The superstructure for supporting the gate and operating mechanismpertaining thereto consists of frames A and B. Frame A is formed ofuprights 1, resting on mud-sills 2, surmounted by cross-bar 3, with asuitable system of braces 4to add strength and rigidity to thestructure. Frame B is constructed of the two-piece uprights formed ofpieces 5,

footed on sill 6 and surmounted by cross-bar 7, J

and foot-braces 8, which serve as attachments for lateral members9,which in turn form guides and provide supports for operating-levers.Pieces 10 complete the frame. The two inside ones, in connection withbolts 42, form guides for latch-strings, as will be hereinafter pointedout. A system of braces 11 connect frames A and B and tie the structuresecurely together.

Gate 0 is mostly of ordinary construction, but has some points ofnovelty. Horizontal boards 12, combined with vertical pieces 13, makethe ordinary frame; but the top members 14 are prolonged backward. Saidtop members may be placed parallel or may be sprung out, as shown in thedrawings, to pern1it lever-arms 35 to be interposed between the topmembers and the gate-frame. Blocks 15 15 are interposed between the topmembers, and rods 16 are secured to blocks 15 and to pieces 13. Theserods form a guide for the latch-string when the gate is being opened. Alateral member 17 adds strength to the structure and prevents thesplitting or bending of the members 14 during the process of opening thegate. The piece 17 is setat an angle sufficient to allow the gate toclear block or sill 18, placed to serve as a support for the gate whenopen and to prevent its cutting into the ground.

Pivoted to posts 1 on pintles 20 are arms 19 which extend downwardly andare pivoted on pintle 21, which extends through the ends of members 14.These arms play an important part when the gate is opened or closed.

Gate-post D is made of vertical posts 22,

footed on sill 23 and supported by braces 24.

Strip 25 and latch-block 26, interposed between posts 22, complete thestructure.

Latch E consists of a bar with notches 27, 28, and 29 cut therein andweights 31 mounted thereon. Notch 27 limits the forward movement of thelatch when the gate drops into position closed, and notch 29 limitsthemotion of the latch, and beveled notch 28 enables the latch to beoperated by the latch-string and also allows the latch to slide intolocking position by gravity and engage pin 28. The weights 30 31 addmass to the latch, and thus insure its operation. Pins 28 form guidesfor the latch.

I will now describe the operating mechanism of my gate.

The levers 32 are pivoted on the pintles 33 and are pivotally connectedto the rods or links 34. These rods 34 extend downwardly and forwardlyand are pivotally connected to the lever-arms 35. The lever-arms 35 arein turn pivoted on pintles 36 at their upper ends centrally to the gateand are reversely pivoted to the frame B on the pintles 37. Alatch-string 38 is attached to the latch E at 39 and extends upwardlybetween the guides 16 and branches at 40 and passes each way through theguides 41, formed by the bolts 42,and extends alongthe levers 32 andthrough the holes 43. Said latch-stringis fitted at the ends withhand-bars 44 and also provided with the stops 45 to limit its movement.

The operation of my gate is as follows: The person desiring to passthrough the gate rides IfO up and grasps one of the bars 44 and gives ita gentle pull. The latch -string 39 yields easily, and because of thesloping notch 28 draws the latch backward from between posts 22 and fromunder latch-block 26, and the stop 45 is brought in contact with thelever 32. A harder and sharper pull is then given, and the gate israised upward by arms and swings backwardly, suspended on arms 19, andon passing the center drops by gravity into position, resting on block18. The person then rides through the gate, approaches the otherhand-bar, grasps it, and bya firm jerk closes the gate.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is- 1. Agate havingarearwardly-extended top rail, a diagonal member secured to the rear endof said top rail and to the bottom member of said gate, a pair ofpivoted links connected at their lower ends to the rear end of said toprail and reversely connected to a framework, an additional pair ofpivoted links connected at their upper ends to said gate, near the top,and about the middle, said additional links being reversely connected attheir opposite ends to a support or framework, and gate-actuating leverslinked to said additional links, substantially as described.

2. A gate having a rearwardly-extended top rail, a pair of pivoted linksconnected at their lower ends to said top rail at its rear end andconnected at their upperends toaframework, a second pair of pivotedlinks connected at their upper ends to said gate, about its middle andnear the top, the opposite ends of said links being reversely connectedto the framework, a latch, a latch-string connected to said latch andhaving two branches extending each way through pulleys or guides andpassing through holes in the gate-actuating levers, stops on saidlatch-string to limit its motion, gate-actuating levers linked to saidsecond pair of links, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a framework consisting essentially of four posts,a gate having a rearwardly-extended top rail and a diagonal memberattached at its upper end to the rear end of said top rail and at itslower end to the bottom member of said gate, a pair of pivoted linksconnected at their lower ends to the rear end of said top rail, andattached at their upper ends to the rear posts of said frame, a secondpair of links pivotally connected at their upper ends to said gate, nearthe top and about the middle thereof, said links being reversely pivotedat their opposite ends to the forward posts of said frame, and means foractuating said gate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN B. SHAFFER.

Witnesses:

D. BROWNE ARMOUR, CHARLES DENEL.

